Quick Summary:

  • No place on Earth has so many spectacular beaches as Hawaii.
  • Clear blue waters wash miles and miles of soft white or black sand.
  • While the beaches in the south of Hawaii are family-friendly with soft surf and are great for swimming and snorkeling, windward beaches are the places where surfing became a world-famous sport.
  • In the summer, visitors can enjoy a cool swim, but in the winter, when the wind picks up and enormous, up to 30 feet high waves start pounding the shore, brave surfers come to catch the next big wave.
  • Surrounded by lush vegetation and often by dark volcanic rocks, Oahu beaches are the stuff dreams are made of.


  • Updated with new information since originally published.
  • Please support our journalism through affiliate links. Affiliate Disclosure
  • Our editors recommend these diverse local experiences.

1. Waikiki Beach ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Beaches
Waikiki Beach | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of sorincolac - Fotolia.com

2. Ala Moana Beach Park ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Category: Activities
Ala Moana Beach Park | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of AdobeStockContributo - Fotolia.com

3. Hanauma Bay State Park

Category: Activities
Hanauma Bay State Park | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of ricktravel - Fotolia.com

4. Kailua Beach

Category: Beaches
Kailua Beach | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of as - Fotolia.com

5. Lanikai Beach

Category: Beaches
Lanikai Beach | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of tobago77 - Fotolia.com

6. Makaha Beach Park

Category: Activities
Makaha Beach Park | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of PixieMe - Fotolia.com

7. Makapuu Beach Park

Category: Activities
Makapuu Beach Park | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of Andrea Izzotti - Fotolia.com

8. Malaekahana Beach

Category: Beaches
Malaekahana Beach | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of Patrick - Fotolia.com

9. Pokai Bay

Pokai Bay | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of Allen.G - Fotolia.com

10. Sandy Beach

Category: Beaches
Sandy Beach | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of ZaZa studio - Fotolia.com

11. Sunset Beach

Category: Beaches
Sunset Beach | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of bennymarty - Fotolia.com

12. Diamond Head Beach Park

Category: Activities
Diamond Head Beach Park | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of Allen.G - Fotolia.com

13. Waimanalo Bay

Waimanalo Bay | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of lameeks - Fotolia.com

14. Waimea Bay

Waimea Bay | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© Courtesy of shanemyersphoto - Fotolia.com

15. Kualoa Regional Park Beach

Category: Activities
Kualoa Regional Park Beach | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© MNStudio/stock.adobe.com

16. Kahana Bay Beach Park

Category: Activities
Kahana Bay Beach Park | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© fotogestoeber/stock.adobe.com

17. Yokohama Bay

Yokohama Bay | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© youli/stock.adobe.com

18. Halona Beach Cove

Category: Beaches
Halona Beach Cove | Beaches on Oahu, Hawaii
© pilialoha/stock.adobe.com

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